Celebrating My Birthday at Manumah Beach

Celebrating My Birthday at Manumah Beach

Fortunately my birthday fell in between the Eid Al Adha holiday and we have family guests from Riyadh, KSA to celebrate with us. On one hand, our guest, Shaun, was also invited for an overnight camping at Manumah Beach by his former workmate who is now connected with an airline company in Oman. The scheduled date happened to be on my birthday. I’m happy because for me it’s like “hitting two birds with one stone”. We can go swimming and meet new friends all at the same time, on my special day.

Manumah Beach

Days before my guests’ arrival, Jesse and I scouted the beach’s location in Seeb. We wanted to be sure that it was be perfectly fine and ideal for swimming especially we have little kids. The sand was not so refined compared to other beaches we have visited in Oman. But, gladly, it’s near to a residential village called Manumah and very accessible to the city proper as well as to the highway. There were also canopies readily provided for public use. I took several pictures of the beach and sent to my friend Elle, Shaun’s wife, for her to see it beforehand. I also advised them to bring camping gear like tents, sleeping bags just in case they liked to camp out.

Another view of the beach

The residential area in Manumah Village

The morning of October 28th, I cooked food and I prepared some of our beach wears. However, just for no reason, I don’t feel like camping at the moment, all I want was to swim and stayed there until late evening. So I told Shaun, my kids and I could go ahead while Jesse could join them for the overnight camping. And he agreed with me, because as much as he wanted to, he preferred to sleep at home and get more rest for our adventure the next day. But he was bit ashamed to turn down his friend’s invitation and cannot do anything but to spend the night in the beach with his friend’s family as well.

My son Andrei wearing blue rush guard top and EJ son of our friends from KSA

My little beach babe

We arrived at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon. We were warmly welcomed by Basti and his wife Patty and their three adorable kids- a girl age 9, a boy age 4, and 3 months old baby boy. Another family, Mark with his wife and two daughters also joined with us. Mark, Basti, Shaun, and Elle were former workmates in Lufthansa Technik in Manila. But now, Mark and Basti are currently working in Oman Air while Shaun and Elle are now connected with Riyadh Aviation in KSA. It is a small world, indeed, for these fellows. They meet up once again not Philippines but in Oman instead.

It was fun and relaxing the whole afternoon. The kids were having their own good time in the beach, swimming, running, playing, and making sand castles. We grilled pork and chicken. Eating and Chatting. For mommies, the center of our chat was on raising kids and parenting style which we shared our own personal funny experiences and nerve-wrecking moments. While daddies talked about their working environment and office colleagues. Then, Elle took out the ready-made birthday cake she bought for me. She lit the birthday candle and asked me to make a wish. Anyah and I blew the candle together while everyone sang a birthday song. I’m so touched and happy. I felt like a young girl once again!

my melted birthday cake..yummy choco mocca flavor

Not until 8:00 PM that Mark and his family bid goodbye. They drove to Musannah (which is our place) and stayed in the Millenium Hotel because they have availed the hotel promo of 75 Omani Rials for a family room per night. When they left, daddies began to assemble the very big portable tent for Bas and his family. It took them almost an hour to figure out and put up the whole tent.

putting up the tent

a challenge for them since it’s too dark to figure out the tent layout

Almost there

Perfect! a very huge tent

After the tent was finally set up, daddies have relaxed and chilled over ice-cold beer. Meanwhile, Shaun brought their small tent that can accommodate two persons only where kids love to play around, inside, and out.

Resting after almost an hour of setting up the tent challenge

Kids were playing around

At about 10 in the evening, my kids and I along with Elle went home ahead and bid farewell to Bas and his family. I am so thankful for the warmness and friendliness of the couple and their little children. I hope to meet them once again and perhaps plan a camping trip for our family.